Storing activated aluminum

ABSTRACT

A system for hydrogen formation includes a container and at least one object. The container defines a reservoir and is flexible along the reservoir. The container forms a gas-tight seal between the reservoir and an atmosphere outside of the container. The at least one object includes aluminum in an activated form. The at least one object is disposed in an inert environment in the reservoir, and the activated form of the aluminum reactable to produce hydrogen in the reservoir upon exposure to water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/945,201, filed on Dec. 8, 2019, the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Under normal environmental conditions, aluminum is covered with aprotective oxide coating. This oxide coating forms rapidly in air and isstable. Thus, although aluminum is reactive with water to producehydrogen and heat, the oxide coating on aluminum is an obstacle to usingaluminum as a source of energy.

To overcome the impact of aluminum oxide on the water-reactivity ofaluminum, aluminum can be treated to be in an activated form that yieldsa large amount of hydrogen and heat when reacted with water. With thiscombination of energy density and water-reactivity, activated aluminumis a volumetrically efficient and easily useable source of hydrogen.However, because it is subject to fouling by oxygen, water vapor, orother contaminants, activated aluminum can have a limited andunpredictable shelf-life.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a system for hydrogen formation may include acontainer defining a reservoir, the container flexible along thereservoir, the container forming a gas-tight seal between the reservoirand an atmosphere outside of the container, and at least one objectincluding aluminum in an activated form, the at least one objectdisposed in an inert environment in the reservoir, and the activatedform of the aluminum reactable to produce hydrogen in the reservoir uponexposure to water.

In certain implementations, the at least one object may have a firstvolume, the reservoir has a second volume greater than the first volume,and the difference between the second volume and the first volume may beless than about 50 percent such that the container conforms to the atleast one object along the reservoir.

In some implementations, the inert environment in the reservoir is avacuum.

In certain implementations, with the at least one object disposed in thereservoir, the container may be foldable onto itself along thereservoir. In some instances, the reservoir may be expandable to unfoldthe container under pressure of hydrogen producible in the reservoirupon exposure of the at least one object to water.

In some implementations, the system may further include a first conduitdefining a first port, wherein the first conduit has a firstlongitudinal dimension extending along the reservoir, the first port isin fluid communication with the reservoir via the first conduit, and thefirst port is accessible from outside of the container. The at least oneobject may be arranged, for example, in a plurality of rows in thereservoir, the plurality of rows substantially parallel to one anotherand to the first longitudinal dimension of the first conduit extendingalong the reservoir. Additionally, or alternatively, the first conduitmay define a plurality of openings collectively extending along thefirst longitudinal dimension of the first conduit, and the plurality ofopenings sized to deliver, at a given pressure of water within the firstconduit, a variable amount of water into the reservoir in a directionextending away from the first port. In some cases, each opening of theplurality of openings may be a slit openable in response to waterpressure in the first conduit.

In certain implementations, the system may further include a secondconduit defining a second port, wherein the second conduit has a secondlongitudinal dimension extending along the reservoir, the second port isin fluid communication with the reservoir via a plurality of orificesalong the second longitudinal dimension and is accessible from outsideof the container. The first longitudinal dimension of the first conduitand the second longitudinal dimension of the second conduit may besubstantially parallel to one another in the reservoir. Additionally, oralternatively, the container may be foldable along the firstlongitudinal dimension of the first conduit and the second longitudinaldimension of the second conduit. Further, or instead, the first port andthe second port may be adjacent to one another. Still further orinstead, at least one of the first port or the second port may beresealable.

In some implementations, the container may include a bellows flexiblealong the reservoir.

In certain implementations, at least along the reservoir, the containermay include a polymer having a glass transition temperature greater thanboiling water (e.g., greater than about 120° C.).

In some implementations, the container may include at least one sheetand at least a portion of the reservoir is defined by a weld along theat least one sheet.

According to another aspect, a system for hydrogen generation mayinclude a container defining a reservoir, the container flexible alongthe reservoir, water-reactive aluminum in the reservoir, a first hoseporous and extending in the reservoir, and a second hose porous andextending in the reservoir, wherein the first hose and the second hoseare each flexible with the container along the reservoir.

In certain implementations, the container may include a sheet and a weldabout at least a portion of a perimeter of the container.

In some implementations, the water-reactive aluminum is between thefirst hose and the second hose in the reservoir.

In certain implementations, the container is foldable upon itself withthe first hose, the second hose, and the material disposed in thereservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a system for hydrogen formation, with acontainer of the system shown in an initial position prior to theintroduction of water into the container to react therein with aluminumin an activated form.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A, shown at a firsttime shortly after water has been introduced into the container to reacttherein with aluminum in the activated form.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A, with the systemshown at a second time at which water has reacted with substantially allof the aluminum in the container.

FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the cross-section of the system takenalong the line 1D-1D in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1E is a side view of the cross-section of the system taken alongthe line 1E-1E in FIG. 1C.

FIG. 1F is a side view of a first conduit of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1G is a side view of a second conduit of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a container including a bellows, thecontainer shown with the bellows in a compressed state.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2A, the containershown with the bellows in an expanded state.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying figures, in which exemplary embodimentsare shown. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth herein.

All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety. References to items in the singular should be understoodto include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly statedotherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intendedto express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations ofconjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwisestated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generallybe understood to mean “and/or,” and the term “and” should generally beunderstood to mean “and/or.”

Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting,referring instead individually to any and all values falling within therange, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value withinsuch a range is incorporated into the specification as if it wereindividually recited herein. The words “about,” “approximately,” or thelike, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed asincluding any deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skillin the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges ofvalues and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, anddo not constitute a limitation on the scope of the describedembodiments. The use of any and all examples or exemplary language(“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) is intended merely to better illuminatethe embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of thoseembodiments. No language in the specification should be construed asindicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of thedisclosed embodiments.

Using aluminum as a source of hydrogen and heat can present challengesin field applications in which logistics are a challenge and yet it isnecessary to generate a significant amount of hydrogen and/or heatreliably under unpredictable conditions. Further, given that many fieldapplications are constrained by the amount of equipment that can betransported efficiently, containing the hydrogen and/or heat producedfrom the reaction of water and an activated form of aluminum can also bea practical limit to the usefulness of aluminum as an energy.Accordingly, in the description that follows, various aspects ofcontaining activated aluminum and its reaction products with water aredescribed. For example, the systems described herein facilitatelong-term storage of an activated form of aluminum in a container thatis compact for portability and while being expandable to containhydrogen and/or heat, even under uncontrolled field conditions.

As used herein, the terms “activated aluminum,” “aluminum in anactivated form,” and “water-reactive aluminum” shall be understood to beinterchangeable with one another, unless otherwise specified or madeclear from the context, with the different terms being used asappropriate to facilitate readability in different contexts. Further,unless a contrary intent is indicated, each of these terms shall beunderstood to include any manner and form of aluminum that may producehydrogen upon exposure to water, with or without the addition ofadditional materials. Some examples of activated aluminum useable hereinare set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 10,745,789, issued Jonathan ThurstonSlocum on Aug. 18, 2020, and entitled “Activated Aluminum Fuel,” theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1G, a system 100 for hydrogen formation mayinclude a container 102 (e.g., a bag-like structure) and at least oneinstance of an object 104, with the object 104 including an activatedform of aluminum reactable to produce hydrogen upon exposure to water.The object 104 may be disposed in a reservoir 106 defined by thecontainer 102 such that the container 102 may generally preserve thephysical and chemical integrity of the object 104 such that theactivated aluminum of the object 104 may reliably produce hydrogen andheat, even after a long period of storage and/or after being transportedto the field under uncontrolled conditions. For example, the container102 may form a gas-tight seal between the reservoir 106 and anatmosphere outside of the container 102, thus reducing the likelihood ofinadvertently exposing the activated aluminum of the object 104 tomoisture or other environmental contaminants that can degrade thereactability of the activated form of aluminum. As described in greaterdetail below, the reservoir 106 in which the object 104 is contained maybe an inert environment, as may be useful for reducing the likelihoodthat the object 104 does not degrade in situ within the reservoir 106during long periods of storage. As also described in greater detailbelow, the container 102 may be flexible at least along the reservoir106 such that the system 100 is compact when it is serving as along-term storage vessel for the object 104 use but is also a reactionchamber expandable to retain a significant fraction of the hydrogenproduced when water is introduced into the reservoir 106 at a point ofuse of the system 100. Thus, among other things, it shall be appreciatedthat the system 100 may robustly produce hydrogen from aluminum andhydrogen, even under field conditions in which environmental conditionsand the demand for hydrogen are unpredictable, resources areconstrained, and portability is critical.

In general, with object 104 unreacted therein (e.g., FIG. 1A), thecontainer 102 may have any one or more of various different form factorsuseful for conserving space, as compared to the size of the container102 when substantially all of the activated aluminum in the object 104has reacted with water to produce hydrogen (e.g., FIG. 1C). While theoverall dimensions of the container 102 may depend on a particularend-use case, it shall be appreciated that achieving a compact formfactor of the system 100 before it is used is generally useful across avariety of applications, given that such compactness eases therequirements associated with transport and/or storage. Further, it shallbe appreciated that certain features of the container 102 may facilitateachieving such compactness regardless of the overall dimensions of thecontainer 102.

As an example, with the object 104 disposed in the reservoir 106, thecontainer 102 may be foldable onto itself at least along the reservoir106. As used in this context, the term “foldable” shall be understood toinclude any manner and form of bending the container 102 at least alongthe reservoir 106 such that one portion of the container 102 coversanother portion of the container 102. Thus, the term “foldable” includesthe container 102 rolled onto itself as shown in the figures. In certainimplementations, the container 102 may be folded onto itself along thereservoir 106 in a pattern (e.g., a predetermined pattern) complimentaryto the flexibility of the container 102 such that the reservoir 106 ofthe container 102 is expandable to unfold the container 102 underpressure of hydrogen producible in the reservoir 106 upon exposure ofthe at least one object to water. The use of pressure within thereservoir 106 to unfold the container 102 may reduce the amount of timerequired to produce hydrogen using the system 100 and, further orinstead, may facilitate single-user operation of the system 100.

To additionally, or alternatively, realize a compact form factor of thesystem 100, the container 102 may conform to the object 104 disposed inthe reservoir 106. For example, the object 104 may have a first volume,the reservoir 106 may have a second volume greater than the firstvolume, and the difference between the first volume and the secondvolume may be small to reduce wasted space before the system 100 isused. As a more specific example, the difference between the secondvolume of the reservoir 106 and the first volume of the object 104 maybe less than about 50 percent.

To be robust as both a compact vessel in storage and a reaction chamberin use in the field, the container 102 may be advantageously include aflexible and heat-resistant polymer (e.g., polypropylene,high-temperature plastic, flexible composite, or rubber) alone or aspart of a composite material. With respect to flexibility, the polymermay support repeated cycles of folding and unfolding of the container102. Additionally, or alternatively, if the polymer includes rubber thecontainer 102 may expand. Additionally, or alternatively, with respectto heat-resistance, the polymer may maintain structural integrity aswater is reacted with the activated aluminum of the object 104 in thereservoir 106 to produce hydrogen and steam. For example, at least alongthe reservoir 106, the container may include a polymer having a glasstransition temperature greater than boiling water (e.g., greater thanabout 120° C.).

In general, the inert environment of the reservoir 106 may be any one ormore of various different types of environments in which the activatedaluminum of the object 104 is more stable than it is in atmospheric airat standard temperature (70° C.) and pressure (1 atm). Since only wateris let into the once-inert environment of the reservoir 106, only theobject 104, water, and reaction byproduct 107 are present in thereservoir 106 as the water reacts with the activated aluminum of theobject 104, thus reducing the likelihood of mixing hydrogen withunwanted gases (e.g., air). That is, the inert environment in thereservoir 106 may facilitate maintaining hydrogen purity necessary, orat least desirable, for certain end-uses (e.g., as a fuel for a fuelcell, an internal combustion engine, or another container for subsequentuse in a purity-sensitive application).

In certain instances, the inert environment in the reservoir 106 may bea vacuum, which shall be understood to include an environment at leastpartially exhausted of gas (e.g., air). Such a vacuum may be achieved,for example, by vacuum sealing the reservoir 106. In addition toreducing the likelihood of contamination of the activated aluminum ofthe object 104 in the reservoir 106, such a vacuum may advantageouslydraw the flexible portion of the container 102 along the reservoir 106toward the object 104 in the container 102 to reduce the overall size ofthe container 102.

Additionally, or alternatively, the inert environment in the reservoirmay include one or more inert gases. Examples of such inert gasesinclude nitrogen, argon, or a combination thereof. While such gases maybe advantageously purified, it shall be appreciated that benefits of theinert gas may be achieved even with some contaminants present. Forexample, in some instances, the inert gas may include oxygen-depletedair having an oxygen having a small amount of oxygen (e.g., less thanabout 10 percent and greater than about 0 percent by volume).

In certain implementations, the system 100 may include a first conduit108 defining a first port 110. The first conduit 108 may have a firstlongitudinal dimension L1 extending along the reservoir 106, and thefirst port 110 may be in fluid communication with the reservoir 106 viathe first conduit 108. For example, the first port 110 may be accessiblefrom outside the container 102 to facilitate introducing water into thecontainer 102 to drive the reaction with activated aluminum to formhydrogen and steam. More specifically, water may be introduced into thefirst port 110 such that the water flows into the reservoir 106 and, inparticular, into contact with the activated aluminum of the object 104disposed in the reservoir 106.

In some cases, the first conduit 108 may include a first cap 111disposed over the first port 110 to form a seal (e.g., a gas-tight seal)with the first port 110 when the system 100 is not in use, such as whilethe system 100 is stored. In some instances, the first cap 111 may berepeatedly positionable over the first port 110 such that the first cap111 may reseal the first port 110 in the event that it is necessary ordesirable to form hydrogen from the activated aluminum of the object 104intermittently. For example, in some cases the first cap 111 may be avalve actuatable between an open and closed position to facilitatecontrolling (e.g., manually controlling) the introduction of water intothe reservoir 106. In instances in which the first cap 111 is a valve,it shall be appreciated that the valve may reduce the likelihood ofbackflow of the contents of the reservoir 106 back through the firstport 110.

Because the object 104 is already present in the reservoir 106 at theinception of use of the system 100, the completeness and rate ofreaction of the activated aluminum of the object 104 to form hydrogenmay be dominated by the physical aspects of introducing water to theobject 104. Stated differently, the arrangement of the first conduit 108and the object 104 relative to one another in the reservoir 106 may beuseful, if not critical, for achieving a reaction that proceeds tocompletion within a useful amount of time for a given application.Further, or instead, the physical orientation of the first conduit 108relative to the object 104 may facilitate driving the reaction at anappropriate rate with little or no special skill or training required bythe user. That is, the first conduit 108 may facilitate self-regulatingdistribution of water along the object 104 within the reservoir 106.

By way of example and not limitation, the first conduit 108 may be aporous hose extending along the reservoir 106 to deliver water in acontrolled manner to the activated aluminum of the object 104. Forexample, the object 104 may be arranged in at least one row (e.g., in aplurality of rows parallel to one another and, in some cases, evenlyspaced from one another in the reservoir 106) in the reservoir 106, andthe first longitudinal dimension L1 of the first conduit 108 may beparallel to the row formed by the object 104. Continuing with thisexample, the first conduit 108 may define a plurality of openings 112along the first longitudinal dimension L1 of the first conduit 108. Theplurality of openings 112 may be sized to deliver, at a given pressureof water within the first conduit 108, a variable amount of water intothe reservoir in a direction extending away from the first port 110.Some examples of such controlled introduction of water into thereservoir 106 will now be described.

For example, each instance of the plurality of openings 112 may be aslit openable in response to water pressure in the first conduit 108. Asthe water is pressurized in the first conduit 108, an instance of theplurality of openings 112 closest to the first port 110 will open torelease water and reduce the pressure to subsequent slits along thefirst longitudinal dimension L1 of the first conduit 108, and thesubsequent instances of the plurality of openings 112 will not open. Asthe activated aluminum of the instances of the object 104 reacts withthe water that was initially introduced, water flow in the first conduit108 will ebb and the next instances of the plurality of openings 112will open, and so on along the first longitudinal dimension L1 of thefirst conduit 108 in a direction extending away from the first port 110.As a result of such introduction of water into the reservoir 106, thereaction of activated aluminum to produce hydrogen may occur in a waveand, to the extent the container 102 is folded when the reaction begins,the container 102 unfold as the reaction progresses. Once the container102 is entirely unfolded, water may wick to the reaction byproduct 107and any activated aluminum that remains unreacted may create a moistureconcentration gradient that will attract further water to react with theactivated aluminum of the object 104.

While the plurality of openings 112 may be advantageously formed asslits in some instances, it shall be appreciated that other shapes andsizes may be additionally or alternatively used to control thedistribution of water in the reservoir 106. For example, the pluralityof openings 112 may be holes such that the flow of water through theplurality of openings 112 will be greatest near the portion of the firstconduit 108 closest to the first port 110 and will decrease along thelongitudinal dimension L1 of the first conduit 108. As the reactionsdevelops, the instances of the plurality of openings 112 with thegreater amounts of flow will be choked off and instances of theplurality of openings 112 further away from the first port 110 will havemore flow and, again, a wave-like reaction analogous to the onediscussed above may occur in the reservoir 106.

Having described aspects of the introduction of water into the reservoir106 to react with activated aluminum of the object 104 to producehydrogen gas, attention is now directed to the collection of hydrogengas that has been produced. In general, unless otherwise specified ormade clear from the context, the hydrogen collected from the reservoir106 may be used for any one or more of various different types ofapplications for which hydrogen may be useful, such as an input to afuel cell to produce electricity or as a lifting gas for a structuresuch as a balloon. Independent of the end-use of the hydrogen, however,it is typically beneficial to collect as much of the hydrogen aspossible, given that this results in the safest and most efficient useof the activated aluminum carried in the container 102 to the use site.

In certain implementations, the system 100 may include a second conduit120 defining a second port 122. The second conduit 120 may have a secondlongitudinal dimension L2 extending along the reservoir 106. The secondconduit 120 may be, for example, a porous hose. That is, the second port122 may be in fluid communication with the reservoir via a plurality oforifices 124 along the second longitudinal dimension L2. Additionally,or alternatively, the second port 122 may be accessible from outside ofthe container 102, as may be useful for connecting the system 100 toanother component associated with an end-use application (e.g., tocouple the system 100 to a balloon or another inflatable structure) suchthat hydrogen may flow from the second port 122 directly to the end-useapplication with little or no interaction with oxygen or othercontaminants in the environment.

The second conduit 120 may, for example, include a second cap 123disposed over the second port 122 to form a seal (e.g., a gas-tightseal) with the second port 122 when the system 100 is not in use (e.g.,during storage). In some instances, the second cap 123 may be repeatedlypositionable over the second port 122 such that the second cap 123 mayreseal the second port 122 in the event that it is necessary ordesirable to form hydrogen from the activated aluminum of the object 104intermittently. Further, or instead, resealing the second port 122 usingthe second cap 123 may facilitate using the container 102 to storehydrogen, at least temporarily, in the field. As an example, the secondcap 123 may be a valve actuatable between an open and closed position toselectively dispensing (e.g., manually and/or automatically controlling)to multiple end applications with little or no waste of hydrogen.Further, or instead, in instances in which the second cap 123 is avalve, it shall be appreciated that the valve may reduce the likelihoodof backflow of air or other environmental contaminants into thereservoir 106 through the second port 122. Returning again to theexample in which the first conduit 108 includes a first cap 111, itshall be appreciated that the first cap 111 may be positioned to blockthe first port 110 while the second cap 123 is operated to permit theflow of hydrogen out of the reservoir 106 via the second port 122. Moregenerally, coordinated operation of the first cap 111 and the second cap123 may, for example, reduce the likelihood of contamination of thecontents of the reservoir 106 while or after hydrogen is being producedin the reservoir 106.

In general, the container 102 may be foldable upon itself with the firstconduit 108, the second conduit 120, and the object 104 disposed in thereservoir 106, as is useful for forming the system 100 into a compactform factor amenable to portability and efficient storage. As anexample, the first longitudinal dimension L1 of the first conduit 108and the second longitudinal dimension L2 of the second conduit 120 maybe substantially parallel to one another (e.g., to within ±10 degrees)in the reservoir. In such implementations, the container 102 may befoldable along the first longitudinal dimension L1 of the first conduit108 and the second longitudinal dimension L2 of the second conduit 120.

In certain implementations, the object 104 may be disposed between thefirst conduit 108 and the second conduit 120 in the reservoir 106. Suchrelative spacing may be useful for reducing the likelihood of backflowthrough an unintended port. Further, or instead, the object 104positioned between the first conduit 108 and the second conduit 120 mayfacilitate unfolding the container 102 in a controlled and predeterminedmanner.

In general, the first port 110 and the second port 122 may be spacedrelative to one another in any one or more of various differentorientations as may be useful for facilitating water into the reservoir106 and collecting hydrogen from the reservoir 106. Thus, for example,the first port 110 and the second port 122 may be adjacent to oneanother, as may be useful for single-operator use of the system 100.That is, with the first port 110 and the second port 122 adjacent to oneanother, a single operator may be able to reach both ports and, thus,may be able to control the flows through the first port 110 and thesecond port 122 in coordination with one another. Further, or instead,positioning the first port 110 and the second port 122 adjacent to oneanother may be particularly useful for using the system 100 without theneed to unfold the container 102 first. That is, with the first port 110and the second port 122 adjacent to one another, each port is accessibleeven without unfolding the container 102. In addition to saving time,this may serve as a further benefit for single-operator use.

While it may be useful to have the first port 110 and the second port122 positioned adjacent to one another, it shall be appreciated that thefirst port 110 and the second port 122 may be positioned opposite oneanother such that water is introduced along one side of the container102 and hydrogen is collected on an opposite side of the container 102.In this manner, the second conduit 120 is unlikely to become clogged bythe reaction byproduct 107, which expands. Further, or instead, thisarrangement may reduce the likelihood that the first conduit 108 may bestopped by the reaction byproduct 107. In certain implementations, oneor both of the first conduit 108 or the second conduit 120 may protrudefrom both ends of the container 102, as may be useful for operating thesystem 100 in different orientations.

In general, the container 102 may be formed according to any one or moreof various different techniques capable of withstanding the temperaturesand pressures associated with the reaction of activated aluminum of theobject 104 in the reservoir 106. For example, the container 102 mayinclude one or more sheets that are welded (e.g., heat welded) to formthe reservoir 106. Further, in instances in which the system 100includes one or more of the first conduit 108 or the second conduit 120,a weld 126 about the first port 110 and/or the second port 122 maysecure the respective port and, thus, the respective conduit in place.

While the system 100 has been described as producing steam along withhydrogen, it shall be appreciated that certain applications may notrequire the use of steam. In such instances, the container 102 maydissipate heat for the chemical reaction (e.g., by being uninsulated, byincluding thermally conductive material, and/or by being submersible inwater). To the extent such heat-dissipation condenses the steam, itshall be appreciated that the resulting water may react with theactivated aluminum in the reservoir 106, thus facilitating theproduction of the same amount of hydrogen using less water, underotherwise identical conditions.

While the container 102 has been described with respect to aspectsrelated to storage and hydrogen formation, it shall be appreciated thatthe container 102 may be additionally, or alternatively, useful forretaining and properly disposing of the reaction byproduct 107. Forexample, the container 102 may be disposable with the reaction byproduct107 therein. Additionally, or alternatively, the reservoir 106 may beaccessible from outside of the container 102 to remove the reactionbyproduct 107 and replace the object 104 such that the system 100 may bereused.

While the container 102 has been described as being formed of an elasticmaterial along the container 102, it shall be appreciated thatflexibility may additionally or alternatively be imparted to a containeraccording to other techniques. For example, referring now to FIG. 2A andFIG. 2B, a container 202 may include a bellows 230, and being a bellows,it is flexible and can also expand in volume. Unless otherwisespecified, or made clear from the context, the container 202 shall beunderstood to be analogous to the container 102 and, therefore, is notdescribed separately, except to note difference or to emphasize certainaspects. Thus, generally, it shall be understood that the container 202may be used to react activated aluminum with water to form hydrogen gasaccording to any one or more of the various different techniquesdescribed herein.

The bellows 230 may be flexible to change the size and shape of thecontainer 202. For example, bellows 230 may include rigid sections 232joined together by a flexible membrane 234. The rigid sections may beformed, for example, of one or more rigid and temperature-resistantmetals (e.g., stainless steel). Additionally, or alternatively, theflexible membrane 234 may be formed of a polymer (e.g., any one or moreof the various different polymers described herein) having a glasstransition temperature greater a boiling temperature of water (e.g.,greater than about 120° C.). The bellows 230 may be useful, for example,for withstanding high temperatures and pressure within the reservoir206. Further, or instead, the bellows 230 facilitate reusing thecontainer 202.

The method steps of the implementations described herein are intended toinclude any suitable method of causing such method steps to beperformed, consistent with the patentability of the following claims,unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear fromthe context. So, for example performing the step of X includes anysuitable method for causing another party such as a remote user, aremote processing resource (e.g., a server or cloud computer) or amachine to perform the step of X. Similarly, performing steps X, Y and Zmay include any method of directing or controlling any combination ofsuch other individuals or resources to perform steps X, Y and Z toobtain the benefit of such steps. Thus, method steps of theimplementations described herein are intended to include any suitablemethod of causing one or more other parties or entities to perform thesteps, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unlessa different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from thecontext. Such parties or entities need not be under the direction orcontrol of any other party or entity, and need not be located within aparticular jurisdiction.

It will be appreciated that the methods and systems described above areset forth by way of example and not of limitation. Numerous variations,additions, omissions, and other modifications will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art. In addition, the order or presentation ofmethod steps in the description and drawings above is not intended torequire this order of performing the recited steps unless a particularorder is expressly required or otherwise clear from the context. Thus,while particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications in form and details may be made therein without departingfrom the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Apparatus for hydrogen formation, theapparatus comprising: a container defining a reservoir, the containerflexible along the reservoir, the container forming a gas-tight sealbetween the reservoir and an atmosphere outside of the container; atleast one object including aluminum in an activated form, the at leastone object disposed in an inert environment in the reservoir, and theactivated form of the aluminum reactable to produce hydrogen in thereservoir upon exposure to water; a first conduit having a firstlongitudinal dimension fixed to the container along the reservoir; and asecond conduit having a second longitudinal dimension fixed to thecontainer along the reservoir and substantially parallel to the firstlongitudinal dimension of the first conduit along the reservoir, thefirst conduit and the second conduit each in fluid communication withthe reservoir, and the container foldable along the first longitudinaldimension of the first conduit and along the second longitudinaldimension of the second conduit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe at least one object has a first volume, the reservoir has a secondvolume greater than the first volume, and the difference between thesecond volume and the first volume may be less than about 50 percentsuch that the container conforms to the at least one object along thereservoir.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inert environment inthe reservoir is a vacuum.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, withthe at least one object disposed in the reservoir, the container isfoldable onto itself along the reservoir.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein the reservoir is expandable to unfold the container underpressure of hydrogen producible in the reservoir upon exposure of the atleast one object to water.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefirst conduit defines a first port accessible from outside of thecontainer.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first conduitdefines a plurality of openings collectively extending along the firstlongitudinal dimension of the first conduit, and the plurality ofopenings sized to deliver, at a given pressure of water within the firstconduit, a variable amount of water into the reservoir in a directionextending away from the first port.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, whereineach opening of the plurality of openings is a slit openable in responseto water pressure in the first conduit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6,wherein the second conduit defines a second port in fluid communicationwith the reservoir via a plurality of orifices along the secondlongitudinal dimension of the second conduit and the second port isaccessible from outside of the container.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the first port and the second port are adjacent to one another.11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first port orthe second port is resealable.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theat least one object is arranged in a plurality of rows in the reservoir,the plurality of rows substantially parallel to one another and to thefirst longitudinal dimension of the first conduit extending along thereservoir.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container includesa bellows flexible along the reservoir.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein, at least along the reservoir, the container includes a polymerhaving a glass transition temperature greater than about 120° C.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the container includes at least one sheetand at least a portion of the reservoir is defined by a weld along theat least one sheet.
 16. An apparatus for hydrogen generation, theapparatus comprising: a container defining a reservoir, the containerflexible along the reservoir; a water-reactive aluminum in thereservoir; a first hose, the first hose porous and having a firstlongitudinal dimension fixed to the container along the reservoir; and asecond hose, the second hose porous and having a second longitudinaldimension fixed to the container along the reservoir, the secondlongitudinal dimension of the second hose substantially parallel to thefirst longitudinal dimension of the first hose along the reservoir,wherein the first hose and the second hose are each flexible with thecontainer along the reservoir, the first hose and the second hose areeach in fluid communication with the reservoir, and the container isfoldable along the first longitudinal dimension of the first hose andalong the second longitudinal dimension of the second hose.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the container includes a sheet and a weldabout at least a portion of a perimeter of the container.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 16, wherein the water-reactive aluminum is betweenthe first hose and the second hose in the reservoir.
 19. The apparatusof claim 16, wherein the container is foldable upon itself with thefirst hose, the second hose, and the water-reactive aluminum disposed inthe reservoir.